Nearly 625 people fell ill during the Rath Yatra in Puri on Friday, largely due to extreme heat and overcrowding, officials reported. Puri’s Chief District Medical Officer, Dr. Kishore Satapathy, stated that many individuals experienced minor injuries, vomiting, and fainting, primarily because of the heavy crowds. "Most patients were treated at OPDs and discharged. Thankfully, there were no fatalities," he said.

Odisha’s Health and Family Welfare Minister, Mukesh Mahaling, confirmed that the main factors contributing to the health issues were the intense heat and high humidity. Approximately 70 people were being treated at the Puri District Headquarters Hospital, with nine in critical condition, according to officials.

Sources also mentioned that several people were hurt near the Balagandi area, where Lord Balabhadra’s chariot, Taladhwaja, got stuck for over an hour. The prolonged delay caused a severe crowd buildup, leading to people getting trapped and injured while trying to escape the congestion. Volunteers from both government and private groups helped transport the injured to hospitals.